Arrival & Departure Details

Tour begins in Paris, France
Transfer service to the hotel is included with Air Package

Day 10

Tour ends in Zurich Switzerland
Transfer service to the airport is included with Air Pacgage

Tour Highlights

Full-time Tour Manager

Full-time Destination Manager

Round Trip International airfare from Chicago O’Hare Airport

Airport Transfers

Nine Nights Accommodations

Welcome Meeting

Welcome Dinner

Paris City Tour

Montmarte Fabric Shopping

Gobelins Tapestry Factory Tour

Eiffel Tower Dinner

Seine River Cruise

Toile de Jouy Museum

TGV Train to Alsace Region

European Patchwork Meeting Admission

Wesserling Park

Museum of Printed Textiles

Black Forest Region of Germany

Triberg Cuckoo Clock Shopping

Bernina Factory Tour

St. Gallen Textile Museum

Lucerne City Tour

Farewell Dinner

Baggage Handling

Souvenir Shopping Bag

Thirteen Meals: 9 Breakfasts, 4 Dinners

Accommodations

Day 1 – 3: Le Meridien Etoile, Paris, France

Day 4 – 5: Best Western Grand Hotel Bristol, Colmar, France

Day 6 – 7: Best Western Premier Hotel Victoria, Freiburg, Germany

Day 8 – 9: Movenpick Hotel Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland

Day 1

Relax and unpack at your hotel located in the heart of Paris. Meet your Tour Manager and companions tonight as we savor delicious French cuisine at our Welcome Dinner. D

Day 2

After breakfast (included daily), our private guide takes us on a tour in The City of Light. You’ll see world-famous landmarks, including the Arc de Triomphe, Notre Dame Cathedral, the Champs-Elysées, Place de la Concorde and the magnificent Place Vendôme. This afternoon we’ll visit the beautiful palace and gardens of Versailles. B

Day 3

Explore atmospheric Montmartre before visiting the Gobelins Factory where tapestries were made for royal courts from the time of Louis XIV. The remainder of your day is for you to explore the best of Paris independently. Shop along the Champs Elysées or visit one of the world-famous museums. Tonight, enjoy breathtaking views during dinner at the Eiffel Tower. Later, watch glittering nightscapes drift past from a romantic Seine River cruise. B, D

Day 4

Learn about France’s history of printed fabrics on a guided tour of the Toile de Jouy Museum. The Jouy-en-Josas factory flourished from the mid-1700s to mid-1800s, and you’ll see magnificent examples of their signature toile, with its romantic etching-like pastoral scenes. France’s high-speed TGV train whisks us to Alsace where we settle into our hotel for the next two nights. B

Day 5

You’ll want the whole day at the fabulous European Patchwork Meeting and its exhibits of more than 1,000 works of textile art, with everything from traditional Amish (who originated here) and priceless heirlooms to wildly original contemporary quilts. Learn from demonstrations and classes, attend a fashion show, and shop for fabrics, patterns and needlecraft supplies. B, D

Day 6

Return to the European Patchwork Quilt Show before visiting Wesserling Park. Its museum of printed textiles focuses on fabric arts and fashion with over six million patterns. You also can view the chateau, beautiful gardens and the former royal workshops. Tonight, we’ll stay in charming Freiburg, in Germany’s Black Forest region. B

Day 7

As we drive deeper into the wooded hills of the Black Forest, with its half-timbered villages and rambling farmhouses, you might think you’ve strayed into a fairy tale. This is the home of the cuckoo clock, and in Triberg you can step inside the world’s largest cuckoo clock to see its giant works. Shop for clocks, woodcarvings and other traditional Black Forest crafts before returning to our cozy hotel. B

Day 8

Travel to Steckborn for a guided factory tour of Bernina International, with demonstrations of their sewing machines, software and accessories. Explore St. Gallen at leisure before a tour of the Textile Museum. You’ll see the lace and embroidery that has made St. Gallen famous, along with historic fabrics dating back to ancient Egypt. Later, arrive in Zurich, our home for the next two nights. B

Day 9

Set out for Lucerne, the “Swiss Paradise on the Lake.” Enjoy a leisurely paced Altstadt (Old Town) walking tour of the hidden treasures of the city. Lucerne has more than 800 years of history. Explore such medieval treasures as the covered Chapel Bridge (1333); the famous Water Tower which has served as a prison, watchtower and treasury; the Renaissance-style Town Hall; the Baroque Jesuit Church; and the Lion Monument, carved from natural rock to commemorate the heroic Swiss Guard. Enjoy time to explore on your own before returning to Zurich. This evening, enjoy a Farewell Dinner with your fellow travelers. B, D

Day 10

After a leisurely breakfast, we can swap addresses with new friends before our group transfer to Zurich Airport. B